TOCFL language test

The TOCFL is a globally recognized test of how familiar a person is with any given language. There are six levels, A1 through C2. Native speakers have to study for C2. When a person takes the test they must decide which level and category they are testing for. I was hoping for A2 but expecting A1.  The test I was taking was reading and listening. So I got up on Saturday morning and took the bus to Taipei University of education. I met David, William, and King, who will be my last host brother. There were a few other exchangers there, whom I had never met, but it was mostly just adult, foreigners who were living in Taiwan. We had a bit of trouble finding which room we were each in but we all got to our places on time. For some reason we weren’t allowed to wear shoes in the computer room. That was fine with me. I was comfortable in my little Tortoro socks. David on the other hand, was wearing sandals and the test room was quite chilly. The instructions were all in Chinese. My vocabulary does not include how to use volume or which one is the “next” button so I had to mostly guess on the pictures. The first question I guessed wrong. What I thought was the pause turned out to be the skip. I shook it off and kept going. I ended being four points away from A2 in listening and two in reading. That means I’m “intermediate-mid.” David got A2 for reading but he was disappointed that he didn’t get it for listening. After the test we went out for very tasty Mexican food. It was good. I’ll take it again in May and maybe I’ll get A2.
Thanks for reading,
Autumn Crisovan 丁晚秋

Translating for other Americans

My host sister is in the US for exchange. As far as I know she is having an amazing time in the grand ol’ state of Oregon. Her first host family are Mormon and their son was in Taiwan on a mission trip for the previous two years. So, my host sister’s host family came to Taiwan to see what their son had been up to. We picked them up from the airport Friday night. It was VERY strange to be back in the airport. I kept thinking about how I’ll be back there in two short months. 唉唉！But it was also nice because I got to eat New England clam chowder, which was something I’d been craving since I started my “Culture of the US” presentation;) We went out for dinner at a place my host mom said she had to go to the day before to be able to get us a table. The food was very good. Even I got to try a new dish of fried shrimp and pineapple with a light  mayonnaise on top. Their son has better Chinese than me (of course) but he was mostly talking, and translating for, Baba and his dad. I was translating for Mama and the mom. It might sound stressful to be translating but I felt really kick ass! I was the link between these two women and if I was a bit off with the meaning neither of them would know! It felt great! I always think my Chinese isn’t very good but if I can translate I must be doing something right!
Thanks for reading,
Autumn 丁晚秋

Poem: wandered here

For those who’ve wandered here

It seems those who won’t have nothing to fear.

But I remember how I trembled,

Afraid to be free of these strings I’d entangled.

They kept me down well, warm, and safe

But stuck me securely in one place.

Something kept me from being content,

So away with scissors, I quickly went.

Then without them holding me sound

I floated, terrifyingly, off the ground.

Time is quick to take me back

But now I know what we most lack.

I truly hope you will take a turn

For now my strings can never return.

Autumn Crisovan 丁婉秋

4/23/19